Equipment for producing high-pressure saturated steam

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to an equipment for producing high-pressure saturated steam. The equipment includes a water tank, a pump, a check valve, an atomizing nozzle, a heat chamber and a steam outlet. The pump is connected between water tank and the check valve. The check valve is connected with the heat chamber via the atomizing nozzle. The heat chamber having a steam outlet is hollow into which the atomizing nozzle extends. The hollow chamber is divided into many small chambers which are connected with each other successively. The equipment can produce high temperature steam rapidly and save energy.

THE TECHNICAL SECTOR THIS DEVICE IS RELATED TO

This invention relates to a device for generating high-pressure,saturated steam.

THE PRIOR ART

The application of steam is very broad, ranging from industrial,agricultural, domestic to medical applications. The traditional methodto generate steam is to heat water to boiling point. Industrial boilersutilizing waste heat, domestic boilers or thermo-electric boilers mayvary in their method of generating steam; the principle, however,remains the same, that is, to transmit heat via a heat conductor intowater, which, through natural convection, reaches the boiling point andsteam is generated. Such a method is time-consuming and uses expensivenatural resources; when steam is not required, the boiling water coolsoff and energy is wasted. The Chinese patent 00228251.8 describes adevice for generating high-pressure saturated steam. It comprises amotor, a water tank, a pressure gauge, a steam outlet, a steam chamber,a pressure pump or a gear pump, an atomising nozzle and a heatingchamber, which are all interconnected. The water in the water tank ispumped to an atomising nozzle via a pressure pump or gear pump driven bya motor. The head of the nozzle then generates atomised mist, whichturns into high-pressure, saturated steam in the heat chamberimmediately after being heated. The steam is then transferred to thesteam chamber, which is linked to the heat chamber. Due to the combinedeffect of heat and pressure from a pressure pump or gear pump, the steamin the steam chamber generated through continuous atomisation becomeshigh-pressure, saturated steam that meets the pressure requirements sothat it can be delivered through a steam outlet with a shut-off valve tothe device using the steam. Although the said device has alreadyaddressed the shortcomings and problems of long production time, highconsumption of resources, waste of energy and high cost, the steamgenerated is at a relatively low pressure and temperature; when thesteam is compressed to achieve high pressure, it tends to liquefy due tolow temperature, which is unhelpful when utilising the steam.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The object of this invention is to provide a device for generatinghigh-pressure, saturated steam with the advantages of saving time andenergy, lower running cost and being able to provide higher steamtemperature and pressure.

THE TECHNICAL PROPOSAL OF THIS INVENTION

In order to achieve the above object, the technical proposal adopted bythis invention is as follows. The said device for generatinghigh-pressure, saturated steam is comprised of water tank, water pump,one-way valve, atomising nozzle, heating chamber and steam outlet. Thepump links the tank and one-way valve, which connects to the atomisingnozzle. Following the atomising nozzle, the heating chamber, which has asteam outlet, is hollow and has heating plates installed that subdividethe chamber into multiple interconnected, smaller heating cavities. Theatomising nozzle is connected to the first heating cavity in the hollowchamber, whilst the last heating cavity in the chamber is connected tothe steam outlet.

Compared to the state of the art, this device has the followingadvantages and benefits:

-   (1) After being atomised by the atomising nozzle and heated in the    heating chamber, the water from the water tank turns into steam    immediately, which avoids heating up a large amount of water for    steam production. This saves time and energy.-   (2) Whenever the device or the equipment to which steam is supplied    does not require steam, the power supply can be switched off and    atomisation will be stopped immediately. Thus the heating chamber    will also stop the heating and steam generating process, thereby    saving a large amount of energy.-   (3) The heating plates subdivide the heating chamber into many    interconnected, smaller heating cavities. As steam flows through the    multiple heating cavities a curved steam current is formed. Thus the    steam is heated adequately and is generated at high temperature,    which prevents the steam from liquefaction.

DESCRIPTION OF ATTACHED DRAWINGS

FIG. 1: Depicts the interconnection of the device according to theinvention,

FIG. 2: Shows the construction of the device according to the invention

FIG. 3: A cross-section along C-C of FIG. 2

FIG. 4: A cross-section along D-D of FIG. 2

FIG. 5: The main body structure of a heating plate

FIG. 6: A cross-section along L-L of FIG. 5

FIG. 7: A cross-section along A-A of FIG. 5

FIG. 8: An alternative construction of a heating chamber of this device

APPLICATION EXAMPLES Example 1

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the said device for generatinghigh-pressure, saturated steam is comprised of water tank 1, water pump2, one-way valve 3, atomising nozzle 4, heating chamber 5, and steamoutlet 6. They are interconnected as follows: The water pump 2 links thewater tank 1 and one-way valve 3, which connects to atomising nozzle 4.Joining the atomising nozzle 4, the heat chamber 5 with a steam outlet6, is a spherical, hollow chamber 5 covered with an external thermalinsulating layer 7. Installed in the spherical, hollow chamber 5 areheating plates, which subdivide the chamber into five interconnectedsmaller heating cavities. The atomising nozzle 4 is connected to thefirst heating cavity I in the spherical, hollow chamber 5 and becomes anintegral part of heating plate 8, whilst the last heating cavity V inthe chamber is connected to steam outlet 6. Thermal sensors andtemperature gauges are installed in the last heating chamber, i.e. thefifth heating cavity V.

The construction of the heating plate is shown in FIG. 2, whilst theconstruction of the main body of the heating plate is shown in FIGS. 5,6, and 7. The heating plate's main body 9 is a circular plate, in whicha heating plate positioning hole 11 is provided to retain the heatingbar. Threaded holes 10 are evenly distributed at the circumference ofthe plate to connect and fasten the top and bottom semi-spheres.

The working process of the above device is as follows: The arrows inFIGS. 1 and 2 show the steam flow direction in the heating chamber; thewater from water tank 1 is delivered by water pump 2 via a one-way valve3 to atomising nozzle 4 and then injected into the first heating cavityI of the spherical, hollow chamber 5 after being atomised by theatomising nozzle 4. Since the atomising nozzle 4 is heated by heatingplate 8, the water mist from the atomising nozzle reaches a relativelyhigh temperature. It is therefore easier for the water mist to turn intosaturated steam at a super-high temperature after being further heatedin the first heating cavity I. The arrows in FIG. 2 show the flowdirection of the steam in the heating chamber. The steam flows then tothe second heating cavity II via the cylindrical holes 12 located at theedge of heating cavity I. The steam, after being further heated inheating cavity II, flows to the third heating cavity III via a tube 13between the second and third heating cavities. After being furtherheated in the third heating cavity III the steam flows to the fourthheating cavity IV. Following further heating in cavity IV, it enters thefifth heating cavity V and exits at outlet 6. A pressure gauge and anautomatic switch can be attached to the outlet 16.

Example 2

FIG. 8 is an alternative structural diagram for subdivided heatingcavities in the spherical chamber. All other details are the same as inExample 1.

1. Device for generating high-pressure saturated steam, comprising watertank (1), water pump (2), one-way valve (3), atomising nozzle (4),heating chamber (5) and steam outlet (6), in which the water pump (2)links the water tank (1) and one-way valve (3), which connects toatomising nozzle (4), atomising nozzle (4) is connected to heatingchamber (5) which has a steam outlet (6) on one side, characterised inthat the heating chamber (5) is hollow, installed in which are heatingplates (8) that subdivide the chamber into multiple interconnectedsmaller heating cavities, the atomising nozzle (4) is connected to thefirst heating cavity (1) in the hollow chamber (5), whilst the lastheating cavity in the hollow chamber (5) is connected to steam outlet(6).
 2. Device for generating high-pressure saturated steam according toclaim 1, characterised in that the hollow chamber (5) is coveredexternally with a thermal insulating layer (7).
 3. Device for generatinghigh-pressure saturated steam according to claim 1, characterised inthat the said chamber is a spherical, hollow chamber.
 4. Device forgenerating high-pressure saturated steam according to claim 1,characterised in that the heating plate (8) has a circular main body, inwhich a heating plate positioning hole (11) is provided to retain theheating bar.